The truly cool kids don't give a damn what the glasses cost -- and they're more likely to want to "stick it to the man."
On Oct 21, 10:11 am, "Chuck Knight" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I fix computers for a living -- some of my "test web pages" that I use to > confirm the internet is working are Zenni and GlassyEyes. I figure even if > the person doesn't wear glasses it's a good choice because 1) they haven't > been there before and consequently it's not in their browser cache, and 2) > even if they don't need glasses themselves, they know someone who does, and > it may help them indirectly. > > Consequently I've told a number of teachers about online glasses, and the > response has been universally positive. One VERY consistent response from > teachers, though, has been: "Do you know how many of my kids can't see the > board because they broke their glasses, and aren't *eligible* for a new pair > for 6 more months? This would be a GodSend to them...or anyone, really!" > > Heck, several *teachers* at the local schools are wearing Zennis, now...I > helped them place the orders! > > Definitely a market there -- make a deal with a school, and order glasses en > masse for the kids. The fact that the designs are cool would definitely > help...well, except for the 12 year olds who already have iPhones, and think > branding is more important than seeing. > > It'd take a creative approach to ensure that they aren't viewed as "welfare > glasses" by the cool kids...but it's quite doable. > > -- Chuck Knight > > On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 9:59 AM, onlineIDoc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Great responses guys, keep them coming dont be shy to join and post. > > This is ground breaking and may have to be done in stages with each > > step evaluated along the way, > > > Come on post, buying glasses on line IS the future, just like CLs > > > Did you know that WMT stopped selling CL's on line and became an > > affiliate with 1800 contacts. > > > check out their site, go pharmacy, contacts and you'll be redirected > > to 1800 ,even WMT couldnt make money on these things. > > > Michael Katz > > > On Oct 21, 10:22 am, Fred Di <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > You are to be commended for thinking of this. > > > > Clearly so many in your profession are just out rape the public. > > > Even Walmart and Costco charge $50 or $75 more for an $8 pair of > > > glasses. > > > > How many children go to school every day without glasses, because they > > > broke there's and thier partents can't afford another pair? How > > > many kids don't get thier eyes checked, because there partents can't > > > afford it. How many kids are teased at school because they have tape > > > holding thier broken glasses together. In this economy I think there > > > are a lot. And these parent are those least likley to buy on-line. > > > When children can't see, they can't learn, and a great mind is > > > potentially wasted. > > > > I suggest you open up your shop in a poor neighborhood. > > > The rent will be low, and the people will be thankful. > > > > How about a VAN/RV with all youre quipment in it. > > > Would that work. You could park it in the parking lot at a school, > > > church, or community center. > > > Charge as little as you can, maybe $10? Pehpas a chucrh will organize > > > to pay for really poor kids. > > > > On Oct 19, 4:36 pm, onlineIDoc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > I'm thinking of doing this and I wonder ( marketing survey :) ) what > > > > your reaction is . Any comments pro or con or other suggestions are > > > > welcome and I have thick skin if needed. > > > > > I have been an optometrist for some 35 years, the past 12 I subleased > > > > a location(s) at a big box merchandiser . I have cut my hours down to > > > > 3 days a week, I'm only 51 but have other interests etc. I plan on > > > > working 3 days a week until the good lord says no more. Dont want to > > > > bust my hump and then drop dead before full retirement, and that > > > > sounds boring anyway. > > > > > Although it is tolerated , my big box chain really aint thrilled about > > > > this deal and I know I can be out on a dime, or return to our prior > > > > deal. > > > > > Anyway, better to leave before being kicked out, I am thinking of > > > > opening a low overhead good exposure location to just provide optical > > > > services and let the internet take it from there. I know I'm early, > > > > but I pondered it when contacts starting popping on the net, > > > > people had reservations at first but now thats where most are sold. > > > > > I know its a consumer led recession here, but all the better cause > > > > when folks get desperate to spend their monies, they are becoming > > > > panicked. I "felt" the slowing in the aur since January, but ever > > > > since that LEH news it's like people changed. More willing to try > > > > alternatives, desperate??lets say controlled desperation. > > > > > I have always given great value to my patients, open door policies, > > > > flat cheap rates and big store volume was the answer. It still works > > > > but even our eyeglass prices are a lot of money, too much. The model > > > > may be failing, ie a retail store where folks pay high overhead and > > > > pay commissions , the model dragged thru the past several decades as a > > > > sort of deal was struck. > > > > > Suppliers and to sell to everyone, and not piss anyone off, so they > > > > approach small shops and big chains differently, the net result being > > > > that markups are obnoxiously high,so the small guy can see 3-4 people > > > > a day and make it. And the big boys paying much less to suppliers love > > > > the markup so status quo, the consumer gets the shaft and "bails out > > > > the system". > > > > > But if internet eyeglass sales become a true competitor to B/M sales, > > > > the model will break.Thats how contacts became a no profit item. > > > > > So my idea, rent with the option to buy a properly zoned house, RE is > > > > down here too, set up the office I described above. Idealy, sponsors > > > > would sell consignment sets and keep them up do date, and let you work > > > > off its cost in sales. Well, even without that, the patient will be > > > > directed to this site, so they will not fall in bad hands. There are > > > > some messed up online retailers, not on our list. > > > > We'd give a thorough exam, put them on terminals or give them the > > > > address to shop at home.If we had samples we could grid them so we can > > > > just keeping exams going, give advise adjust the glasses etc.We could > > > > charge maybe 20.00 over the exam price to cover the investment in IT > > > > and maybe consignment. Product comees to your place or ours, and I can > > > > leave one assistant there to set appointments, adjust frames, etc. > > > > > This really amounts to a new model of business whose time might be > > > > here. What do you think? How can I make it better, is it a bad idea? > > > > > Boy I'm glad Ira filters the messages, I may just pissed off almost > > > > every optician and optometrist in the world on the WWW. > > > > > With best wishes for all those hurting from this recession, I stand to > > > > help. Peace. > > > > > Mike Katz optometrist --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Check us out at the oft-updated http://www.glassyeyes.com! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GlassyEyes" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/glassyeyes?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
